Latest news with #ToddErinGraham
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Teacher in B.C. Interior suspended after telling girls he 'was not a pedophile': regulator
The B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation has suspended a teacher in the province's Interior after he reportedly told Grade 11 girls in fitness class that he was "not a pedophile" and touched some of them, making them uncomfortable. Todd Erin Graham consented to a one-day suspension of his teaching certificate and to attend a respectful boundaries course, as part of discipline relating to events in the 2022-23 school year. As part of a consent agreement posted online on Tuesday, the regulator found that Graham was teaching a fitness and conditioning class to Grade 11 students between September and December 2022 when he separated the girls from the boys. "In that meeting, Graham told the girls that he was 'not a pedophile' but that he might have to 'grab them' to show them proper form or to spot them," the consent agreement reads. "Graham then told them that he had no attraction to them as he was 52 and they were 15." The female students reportedly felt uncomfortable after the meeting, with Graham also saying that he would periodically touch students to help them with their form or work muscle groups. Those included occasions when he touched the side of a female student's chest while she was performing a bench press and asked, "Can you feel that?" Graham was also found to have pushed a student's hips while she used a squat rack, and complimented another student's legs while she used a leg press machine. Demeaning comments The regulator also found that he made demeaning comments to both an Indigenous student and a student with diverse needs, while singling them out in front of their classmates in the 2022-23 school year. Following those events, the school district gave him a letter of discipline and ordered him to attend two online courses regarding Indigenous cultural safety and reconciliation. The commissioner's consent agreement says that Graham agreed his actions constituted professional misconduct and agreed to his one-day suspension. "Graham failed to create a positive learning environment or to model appropriate behaviour," the agreement reads. "Graham failed to respect appropriate boundaries, making students feel uncomfortable."
CBC
10-07-2025
- CBC
Teacher in B.C. Interior suspended after telling girls he 'was not a pedophile': regulator
The B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation has suspended a teacher in the province's Interior after he reportedly told Grade 11 girls that in fitness class he was "not a pedophile" and touched some of them, making them uncomfortable. Todd Erin Graham consented to a one-day suspension of his teaching certificate and to attend a respectful boundaries course, as part of discipline relating to events in the 2022-23 school year. As part of a consent agreement posted online on Tuesday, the regulator found that Graham was teaching a fitness and conditioning class to Grade 11 students between September and December 2022 when he separated the girls from the boys. "In that meeting, Graham told the girls that he was 'not a pedophile' but that he might have to 'grab them' to show them proper form or to spot them," the consent agreement reads. "Graham then told them that he had no attraction to them as he was 52 and they were 15." The female students reportedly felt uncomfortable after the meeting, with Graham also saying that he would periodically touch students to help them with their form or work muscle groups. Those included occasions when he touched the side of a female student's chest while she was performing a bench press and asked, "Can you feel that?" Graham was also found to have pushed a student's hips while she used a squat rack, and complimented another student's legs while she used a leg press machine. Demeaning comments The regulator also found that he made demeaning comments to both an Indigenous student and a student with diverse needs, while singling them out in front of their classmates in the 2022-23 school year. Following those events, the school district gave him a letter of discipline and ordered him to attend two online courses regarding Indigenous cultural safety and reconciliation. The commissioner's consent agreement says that Graham agreed his actions constituted professional misconduct and agreed to his one-day suspension. "Graham failed to create a positive learning environment or to model appropriate behaviour," the agreement reads.
CTV News
09-07-2025
- CTV News
‘Not a pedophile': B.C. teacher suspended for one day for touching students in gym class
The floor of a school gymnasium is seen in this stock image. (Credit: Shutterstock) A teacher in B.C.'s Interior who 'periodically' touched students during fitness class has been handed a one-day suspension by the regulatory body. Todd Erin Graham entered a consent agreement with the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation last month in which he admitted to professional misconduct. The decision was posted publicly online Wednesday. The commissioner says while teaching a fitness and conditioning class called Human Performance 12 between September and December 2022, Grahm separated the girls from the boys for a meeting. 'In that meeting, Graham told the girls that he was 'not a pedophile' but that he might have to 'grab them' to show them proper form or to spot them,' the decision reads. 'Graham then told them that he had no attraction to them as he was 62 and they were 15. The students reported feeling uncomfortable following this meeting.' The commissioner says Graham would 'periodically' touch students during exercises, which some female students reported feeling uncomfortable about, and gave three examples. In one instance, the teacher touched the side of a student's chest while she was doing a bench press and asked, 'can you feel that?'. In another, he pushed a student's hips while she did squats, according to the document. In a third incident Graham complimented a student's legs while she was using the leg press machine, a remark she reported feeling uncomfortable with. The school district issued a letter of discipline and required Graham to attend a boundaries course as a result. The consent agreement also addressed comments Graham made in 2022 and 2023. In one incident, Graham singled out a 'diverse learner' in front of the class and described them using an 'unflattering term,' the regulator says. He also singled out an Indigenous student 'in a manner which was demeaning to (the student) specifically and to Indigenous peoples generally.' For those comments, the district issued a disciplinary letter and required him to complete a course on reconciliation. As a result of its investigation, the commissioner suspended Graham's teaching qualification for one day, and required he take the course Reinforcing Respectful Professional Boundaries at the Justice Institute of B.C. by September. Factors considered in the decision, the regulator says, included that the teacher failed to create a positive learning environment, adversely impacted students, failed to respect appropriate boundaries, and harmed First Nations students in a way that did not contribute to truth and reconciliation.
The Province
09-07-2025
- The Province
'Not a pedophile': Two B.C. teachers suspended for crossing boundaries with students
Hussan Ali Riasat and Todd Erin Graham will serve two- and one-day suspensions ordered by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation File photo of a classroom Photo by Getty images Two B.C. teachers have agreed to short suspensions of their certificates after admitting to dealing with students in ways that crossed professional boundaries and left them feeling hurt and uncomfortable. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Todd Erin Graham was teaching high school in a district in the B.C. Interior in the 2022-23 school year when the following happened: He singled out a student — described in a consent resolution agreement with the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation as a 'diverse learner' — in front of classmates and used an unflattering term. Graham also made a comment to an Indigenous student that was 'demeaning' to the student specifically 'and to Indigenous peoples generally.' In early 2024, the district issued a letter of discipline and ordered to take a course on reconciliation at a First Nations university. Later that year, the district reported another incident from 2022 when Graham was teaching a fitness class. 'During the first class, Graham separated the girls from the boys for a meeting,' said the signed agreement. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'In that meeting, Graham told the girls that he was 'not a pedophile' but that he might have to 'grab them' to show them proper form or to spot them.' He told them he wasn't attracted to them because he was 52 and they were 15. 'The students reported feeling uncomfortable following this meeting.' He would 'periodically touch students to help them with their form or identify muscle groups they were working,' making some female students feel uncomfortable. One student was lying on a bench to do a bench press when Graham touched her chest and said, 'Can you feel that?' Another student had her hips pushed by Graham while doing squats, and a third was complimented by Graham on her legs while doing another exercise. In early 2023, Graham was issued another letter of discipline about his conduct and ordered him to take a course on boundaries. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The commissioner investigated and decided a one-day suspension and another course on professional boundaries was warranted, because Graham failed to create a positive learning environment or model appropriate behaviour, his conduct 'adversely impacted students' and made them uncomfortable, and his word choices and comments showed a lack of respect for First Nations. In an agreement also posted online Tuesday, Hussan Ali Riasat was suspended two days for getting into complicated, overly personal and sometimes profane exchanges in 2021 with students he labelled as 'bullies.' Also a high school teacher, Riasat intervened in a conflict among several Grade 10 students who weren't getting along. While trying to mediate, he shared details about his personal life, 'writing them overly personal and inappropriate messages' and leaving a lengthy inappropriate voice message with two students. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In another message sent on MS Teams, Riasat called one of the students 'insanely childish and rude' and accused both students of engaging in 'attention-seeking behaviour and guilt-tripping.' When Riasat contacted another student asking them to help with the conflict, he told that student one of the others had a 'bitchy attitude' and called both 'manipulative.' At the end of the 2021 school year, Riasat made a report to the vice-principal that was highly critical of the students' behaviour and told at least one other teacher the students were bullies. When school resumed in fall, Riasat became frustrated at the continuing conflict among students and approached the president of a school club, telling the student one of the others in the club was a bully. That student was expelled from the club. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In October 2023, the district disciplined Riasat with a five-day suspension without pay and ordered to take a course on boundaries. Then in May 2024, Riasat walked past a group of students and heard one make a comment about someone being bald. He turned and said, 'What the f— did you just say to me?' A Grade 9 student responded, 'Who the f— are you talking to?' to which Riasat responded, 'You.' He then said, 'F— you, bitch.' Based on these and other incidents when Riasat made poor decisions in dealing with students, the commissioner ordered a further two-day suspension that was served late last month. Riasat must also complete another course on boundaries. The commissioner did not name the school district where either Graham or Riasat worked to protect the students involved. jruttle@ Read More BC Lions NHL Local News Life Health
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
'Not a pedophile': Two B.C. teachers suspended for crossing boundaries with students
Two B.C. teachers have agreed to short suspensions of their certificates after admitting to dealing with students in ways that crossed professional boundaries and left them feeling hurt and uncomfortable. Todd Erin Graham was teaching high school in a district in the B.C. Interior in the 2022-23 school year when the following happened: He singled out a student — described in a consent resolution agreement with the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation as a 'diverse learner' — in front of classmates and used an unflattering term. Graham also made a comment to an Indigenous student that was 'demeaning' to the student specifically 'and to Indigenous peoples generally.' In early 2024, the district issued a letter of discipline and ordered to take a course on reconciliation at a First Nations university. Later that year, the district reported another incident from 2022 when Graham was teaching a fitness class. 'During the first class, Graham separated the girls from the boys for a meeting,' said the signed agreement. 'In that meeting, Graham told the girls that he was 'not a pedophile' but that he might have to 'grab them' to show them proper form or to spot them.' He told them he wasn't attracted to them because he was 52 and they were 15. 'The students reported feeling uncomfortable following this meeting.' He would 'periodically touch students to help them with their form or identify muscle groups they were working,' making some female students feel uncomfortable. One student was lying on a bench to do a bench press when Graham touched her chest and said, 'Can you feel that?' Another student had her hips pushed by Graham while doing squats, and a third was complimented by Graham on her legs while doing another exercise. In early 2023, Graham was issued another letter of discipline about his conduct and ordered him to take a course on boundaries. The commissioner investigated and decided a one-day suspension and another course on professional boundaries was warranted, because Graham failed to create a positive learning environment or model appropriate behaviour, his conduct 'adversely impacted students' and made them uncomfortable, and his word choices and comments showed a lack of respect for First Nations. In an agreement also posted online Tuesday, Hussan Ali Riasat was suspended two days for getting into complicated, overly personal and sometimes profane exchanges in 2021 with students he labelled as 'bullies.' Also a high school teacher, Riasat intervened in a conflict among several Grade 10 students who weren't getting along. While trying to mediate, he shared details about his personal life, 'writing them overly personal and inappropriate messages' and leaving a lengthy inappropriate voice message with two students. In another message sent on MS Teams, Riasat called one of the students 'insanely childish and rude' and accused both students of engaging in 'attention-seeking behaviour and guilt-tripping.' When Riasat contacted another student asking them to help with the conflict, he told that student one of the others had a 'bitchy attitude' and called both 'manipulative.' At the end of the 2021 school year, Riasat made a report to the vice-principal that was highly critical of the students' behaviour and told at least one other teacher the students were bullies. When school resumed in fall, Riasat became frustrated at the continuing conflict among students and approached the president of a school club, telling the student one of the others in the club was a bully. That student was expelled from the club. In October 2023, the district disciplined Riasat with a five-day suspension without pay and ordered to take a course on boundaries. Then in May 2024, Riasat walked past a group of students and heard one make a comment about someone being bald. He turned and said, 'What the f— did you just say to me?' A Grade 9 student responded, 'Who the f— are you talking to?' to which Riasat responded, 'You.' He then said, 'F— you, bitch.' Based on these and other incidents when Riasat made poor decisions in dealing with students, the commissioner ordered a further two-day suspension that was served late last month. Riasat must also complete another course on boundaries. The commissioner did not name the school district where either Graham or Riasat worked to protect the students involved. jruttle@ B.C. teacher suspended an extra day for sharing stories with students of a 'sexual nature' Former elementary school principal in B.C. disciplined for spanking a student
